The Heresy of Seed
Faith Giving2 Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there
shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in
damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring
upon themselves swift destruction.
What do you think it means to deny the Lord? Many would say that any
person or group that doesn’t believe that Jesus was the Son of God
would be denying the Lord and that would be true enough. False
religions like Islam and Hinduism would fall into this category.
Most orthodox Christians would include the pseudo Christian cults
like Jehovahs Witness’, Mormons, and others of that ilk. And they
would be correct but are these the false teachers Peter is referring
to here?
If you look closely you will see that Peter says these false
teachers will be “among you”. Since he was writing to a group of
born again, Spirit filled believers we must conclude that he is not
talking about the obvious false religions or even pseudo Christian
cults. The false teachers he is speaking of will be found within the
Body of Christ.
Now how do you suppose that false teachers will get away with
denying the Lord among a group of believers?
The word denying as it is used here is the Greek word arneomai {ar-neh'-om-ahee}.
It is the same word used in Titus 1:16 They profess that they know
God; but in works they deny him…. Used in these contexts, the word
means to contradict.
So a teacher that contradicts the Lord is in fact denying Him. He
may say that Jesus is Lord. He may speak right sounding words
claiming to be born again and he may have the biggest Bible you’ve
ever seen but if his works or teaching contradicts the words of
Jesus he is denying Him.
For example, when Benny Hinn claimed in 1999 that Jesus would
physically appear at one of his upcoming crusades he was
contradicting the specific words of the Lord Jesus.Math 24:23 -26
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there;
believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false
prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if
it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have
told you before Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is
in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers;
believe it not.
By making the claim that Jesus would physically appear at one of his
crusades Hinn contradicted (denied) the words of the Lord and proved
himself to be a false prophet and false teacher according to 2
Peter 2:1
The so called principle of seed faith giving was first popularized
by Oral Roberts almost 50 years ago. It proved to be so profitable
to him that he essentially based his entire ministry on it. As with
any other profitable venture others soon followed. Today it is used
by virtually every “Faith” preacher, the majority of Christian
television networks, and almost all TV preachers in general. It has
even found its way into many mainstream and denominational churches.
How does seed faith giving work. It is loosely based (very loosely
as we will see) on the parable of the sower found in Matthew 13,
Mark 4, and Luke 8. Using the illustration of sowing seed, people
are instructed that if they will give money to the church, the
ministry, the TV network, the man of God, etc, God will multiply it
back to them 30, 60, or 100 times more than they gave. In fact now
days about all you ever hear about is the 100 fold return. The 30
and 60 fold returns have pretty much been dropped altogether.
That’s a pretty good deal wouldn’t you say? Give God $1 and get back
$100. Give God $100 and get back $10,000. Give God $10,000 and get
back a cool million. And not only that, but you can also sow money
and get back other things. Things like salvation for relatives,
healing for incurable diseases, and deliverance from various demonic
influences! That’s right, all you have to do is send your seed
(meaning money) to the man of God!
Is this really what the parable of the sower is all about. What do
you think? Let’s examine this important parable.Luke 8:4-8 NASB
When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various
cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: The
sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside
the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air
ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up,
it withered away, because it had no moisture. Other seed fell among
the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. Other
seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a
hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out,
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Jesus explains the parableLuke 8:11 NASB
Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
Now right here anybody with even a minimal level of reading
comprehension should be able to see that this parable has nothing to
do with money. The seed is the word of God. Even a brand new baby
Christian should be able to look at this and say “I don’t think
these fellows are teaching this correctly”
Let’s continue with Jesus’ explanationLuke 8:12-15 NASB
Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes
and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not
believe and be saved. Those on the rocky soil are those who, when
they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root;
they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. The
seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard,
and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches
and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the
seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in
an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with
perseverance.
This parable is about what happens when the word of God is sown or
revealed in the heart of a person. It may be the most important
parable Jesus taught. Why do I say that? Because Jesus said this:Mark 4;13
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will
ye know all parables?
Jesus is saying that if you don’t understand this parable you won’t
understand any of the parables he taught. This is a foundational
teaching!
By misapplying the parable of the sower these false teachers do
great damage to Gods people. First, by falsely claiming that God
works like some kind of cosmic slot machine. But the real damage is
in the fact that believers are robbed of the true meaning of this
teaching.
The parable of the sower is at work every time Gods word is revealed
to you. In fact it is at work right now in many of you who are
reading this.
I know that many of you will read this and say “I don’t believe
that. I don’t believe that my favorite preacher would preach a false
message” You’ll reject what I’m saying. You’ll actually be rejecting
the words of Jesus
The devil has come already to steal this word from you.
Some of you will hear what I say and receive it gladly. “ Glory to
God” you’ll say, “preach it brother…. Hallelujah ” But you won’t
take the time to really meditate on this word. You won’t really
apply it.
And then a testing will come. Testing because of the word sown in
your heart. A test to see if you really believe, trust in, rely on,
adhere to what you claim to believe. You’ll be challenged. God
Himself will allow that challenge, that test.
Will you pass the test? Or will you revert back to your traditional
thinking?
And of course some of you will hear and believe but you won’t give
this word the proper place in your life. You’ll think about it for a
while. You’ll decide that it’s right but then you’ll get on with
your life. You’ll get busy with your job, your family, your daily
responsibilities and it will recede further and further into the
recesses of your heart until it has no real value to you.
And the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches will
have choked the truth out of your heart.
But I know too that some of you will hear this word and receive it.
You’ll meditate on it. You’ll give it the proper priority in your
life. When challenged you’ll stand and agree with it rather than
contradict!
And you will have proven yourself to be good soil. You’ll produce
fruit, becoming more and more Christ like in your life. You’ll
become a disciple indeed.John 8:31-32
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue
in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed And ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free.
A little leaven leavens the whole lump
Paul said that evil men will wax worse and worse and so it is with
false teaching. The false ideology behind the seed faith message has
infected the church to such a degree that many never even question
the idea that if you “have a need” you must “plant a seed”
But is that assumption theologically sound? Should we really plant a
seed when we have a need?
During a recent telethon (beg-a-thon) Paul Crouch, founder of
Trinity Broadcast Network explained that even God sowed a seed when
He had a need.
That’s right God had a need. He’d lost His first family in Adam,
Crouch explained, so God sowed His best seed, Jesus. Not only that,
but God sowed in expectation. Just like we are taught to sow
expecting a miracle, God sowed expecting a 100 fold return. He gave
His son Jesus and got back many more sons and daughters. Proof
positive that seed faith giving works!
Hogwash!
Does the Bible really teach that God had a need? Did God ever lose
anything or anyone. Would you like God’s response to Mr. Crouch’s
exhortation. Well look right here.Psalm 50:9-12 NKJV
I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds.
For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand
hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of
the field are Mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and
all its fullness.
Or how about this verse Mr. CrouchMath 3:9
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our
father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to
raise up children unto Abraham.
God is God. He is not a man having needs. He didn’t lose anything.
All is His. If He were hungry He wouldn’t tell us. Isn’t that
incredible!
It is the height of arrogance (or perhaps apostasy) to claim that
God is anything like us. He is in no way dependent on us. We are
dependent on Him. And herein lies the real heresy of the seed faith
message.
It turns the doctrine of grace into a doctrine of works and thereby
denies the finished work of the cross.
The seed faith message is a message of works, not grace. It says God
cannot or will not act until we do something.
Would you like to know how to have God meet all your needs, even
financial needs every time? Go to the words of Jesus.Math 6:31-33
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall
we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these
things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that
ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you.
What does Jesus say to do when you have a need? Does He say to sow a
seed?
No, He says take no thought. He says don’t worry about material
possessions. He says that the Father knows you have need of these
things.
So, when a preacher says sow a seed after Jesus has said take no
thought isn’t that preacher guilty of contradicting the Lord? Isn’t
he in fact denying the Lord?
Of course Jesus doesn’t stop there. He tells us how to have our
needs met. It’s simply, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
How do we seek His kingdom and His righteousness? Well, Gods kingdom
and His righteousness are revealed in the GospelRomans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live
by
faith.
The Gospel is defined in 1Cor 15:1-4.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached
unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By
which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto
you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first
of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he
rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Christ. It is this Gospel that is the power of God. It is in this
Gospel that God’s righteousness is revealed. It is in this Gospel
that your needs are met.Eph 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Like many Christians you’ve probably read this scripture so many
times you don’t even think about it any more. You’re probably saying
“yes, praise God I know that I’m saved by grace, I know that I’m
heaven bound but what’s that got to do with me paying my bills?”
The word saved in the Greek is the word sozo. It means literally to
keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction, from
injury or peril, to save a suffering one from perishing, to make
well, heal, restore to health, to preserve one who is in danger of
destruction, to save or rescue.
You see, to be saved means much more than just “go to heaven”. It
means to be set at safety in the here and now. It means to be made
safe in spirit, soul, and body. That would certainly include
material things as well as eternal things wouldn’t it?
The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the free gift of
God. It is salvation (all needs met) to everyone who believes. It
requires no work on our part. It requires no vows, no pledges, no
seeds of faith. What it requires is simply belief.
To believe means more than mere mental assent. It means that we
trust in, rely on, adhere to the fact that God has provided for all
our needs when He raised Jesus from the dead. In other words we must
refuse to contradict (deny) the words of the Lord!2 Peter 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that
hath called us to glory and virtue.
Gods divine power, that same power that raised Christ from the dead
has (past tense) given to us all things that pertain to life and
Godliness. All things means all things! All things that pertain to
life would include finances to pay your bills!
God doesn’t want your money He wants your life.
The faith teachers like to suggest that you must make an exchange or
a trade with God in order for Him to move on your behalf. You know
what? They are right in principle but wrong in practice. The
exchange is not material for material. It’s not give something to
get something.
The exchange is your life for His. It’s your will for His will. It’s
your desires for His desires. That’s the exchange. And that’s the
only exchange God desires. It’s the only exchange He will honor.
A rich man came to Jesus one day and asked what he should do to have
eternal life. Jesus told him to obey Gods commandments. When the man
answered that he had been doing that all his life, Jesus told him
there was one thing he lacked.Mark 10:21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing
thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the
cross, and follow me
This passage is about seeking first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness. It’s about what has priority in our lives.Mark 10:22
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had
great possessions.
The man chose material (temporal) wealth over eternal (true) life.
He chose his will over Gods will.
What does it mean to “take up the cross”? It means to believe the
gospel. To trust in, rely on, adhere to, the death, burial, and
resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our death, burial, and
resurrection with Him !
That’s the exchange God is looking for!Gal 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.
Paul understood the exchange. He understood that to trust in, rely
on, and adhere to the Gospel (the cross) he had to enter into it
himself.Rom 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
so we also should walk in newness of life.Col 2:12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him
through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from
the dead
When we reckon ourselves dead to the world we are made alive in
Christ Jesus. When we lose our lives, we gain real life!Mark 8:35
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall
lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Notice the next to last word in that scripture. That’s right, it’s
the Greek word sozo again. To lose your life is to save it, to make
it complete, to rescue it from destruction, injury, or peril. To be
set at safety.1Cor 15:1
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached
unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
The seed you sow is yourself.John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the
ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth
much fruit.
When you enter into the death burial and resurrection of the Lord
Jesus Christ you sow your life. And you sow it 100%. Not a tenth,
not a seed, all of your life must be sown.
New Testament Giving
The New Testament model for giving is found in II Corinthians
chapter 9. Paul here is exhorting the church in Corinth to fulfill
an obligation to which they had earlier committed. The offering was
being taken for the believers in Macedonia who were suffering great
privation and affliction.
Notice if you will that the offering was to go to needy people, not
to Pauls ministry . Paul was not taking up an offering for himself,
or so that he could “reach the world for Christ” or build an
orphanage, or stay on the air, or for any of the other reasons
modern preachers give to extort money from Gods people.II Cor 9:6-8
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;
and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every
man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And
God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always
having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
This passage of scripture clearly equates financial giving with
sowing seed but it does not validate the “principle” of seed faith
giving.
First of all our giving should be directed primarily toward the poor
and needy. Here’s an interesting scripture you’ll never hear from
these seed faith preachersProv 22:16
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that
giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.|
Aren’t you giving to the rich when you send “seed” to these money
preachers? They all live in million dollar homes, drive high dollar
cars, wear expensive suits. That sounds pretty rich to me. This
scripture says that by the very thing you are doing, you’re
perpetuating your own lack!
Secondly we should give as we purpose in our hearts. Third we should
give cheerfully, not out of need (or just because there is a need),
and not because we feel we must give (out of necessity).
Here is the place where the doctrine of seed faith giving
contradicts the word of God. Every preacher practicing seed faith
giving first of all makes you feel that you must give (of necessity)
before God can move on your behalf. But look again at what Paul
said:
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;
not grudgingly, or of necessity
Now think about it. Think about how these preachers put pressure on
you to give. They make emotional appeals. They make extravagant
claims. They tell you that you must give in order to receive from
God. If you don’t give (and I mean right now!) you’ll miss God, etc,
etc, on and on, ad infinitum
Aren’t they contradicting the clear word of God? Aren’t they in fact
denying the Lord who bought them?
The result of this model of giving is that we are promised that we
will always have enough (always having all sufficiency in all
things) for all the things that God asks us to do (to every good
work).
This is in no way a promise or guarantee of worldly wealth. It is a
promise that God will provide regardless of the circumstances in
which we find ourselves.Phil 4:11-12
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to
be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I
am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and
to suffer need.
Now let’s look again at the proper object of our giving. This is
important because wherever Jesus spoke of giving finances He spoke
of giving alms. The word alms always means a gift of charity. This
is giving specifically for the benefit of the poor.
When Jesus spoke to the rich young ruler what did he tell him to do?Mar 10:21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing
thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the
cross, and follow me.
Jesus told him to give to the poor. He didn’t say give to my
ministry. He didn’t say give at the temple. He said give to the
poor. Jesus spoke may times of giving alms.Mat 6:1
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:
otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.Luke 11:41
But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all
things are clean unto you.Luke 12:33
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax
not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief
approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
In the book of Acts we see the spiritual and physical benefits of
giving alms.Acts 10:1-2
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of
the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared
God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and
prayed to God alway.Acts 10:4
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it,
Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up
for a memorial before God.
God rewarded Cornelius (a gentile Roman soldier) with salvation for
himself and his household because of his prayers and his alms (gifts
to the poor).
How often are we taught today to give alms to the poor?
Now I know that these seed faith preachers make a pretense of giving
to the poor. But how much of what they receive really go to the
poorest among us? I can tell you that it is precious little. Many of
the largest ministries take in millions of dollars each year and
send a few thousand dollars per month to missionaries in third world
countries.
Do you realize how few dollars it takes to feed and cloth the poor
in the poorest nations, Many missionaries are thrilled to have a
$2,000 or $3,000 per month donation from a major ministry. These
missionaries are to be commended. For the most part they are doing a
great work and doing it unto the “least of these” (Math 25:45)
But the seed faith preachers who make a show out of giving a
relative pittance, that’s another matter. In fact the reason most of
them give to missions at all is so that they can go to the mission
once a year with their cameras to show their “partners” how they are
feeding starving kids. This is a pure business decision. By showing
pictures of them hugging poor third world kids they are able to
deceive even more people into sending them money. It’s all a scam, a
charade
Jesus tells us we shall know them by their fruit. Or by the results
of their livesMath 7:16
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns,
or figs of thistles?